Stick with one manufacturer for setting materials – thinset, grout, colorant, sealer. You need an adequate underlayment for marble, as you do with any tile, whether it is stone, ceramic, or porcelain. Marble Institute of America 30 Eden Alley, Suite 301 Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-228-6194 www.marble-institute.com Thin-Set Ceramic Tile 8 3" ceramic floor tile 4.7 psf ½" cementitious backer board 3.0 psf ¾" wood structural panel subfloor 2.3 psf BCI joists at 16" on center 2.5 psf ½" gypsum board ceiling 2.2 psf miscellaneous 2.3 psf I know that, at 5/8”, my subfloor is suitable for most types of cement boards but that it is THE bare minimum and I’ve read that the 5/8” minimum for most cement boards, when tested by manufacturers, are generally done on new materials with ideal conditions; two things that, due to the age of my floor sub floor, has got me reconsidering this approach. For any tile job the minimum subfloor I would recommend is 3/4” PTS (tongue and groove) assuming the joists are 16” on center. Contractor Filed a Lien – What Are Our Options? Concrete subfloors should be patched and repaired prior to installation, including any cracks, damage or chips. The existing subfloor is 3/4" with a 1/4" pressboard over top. Photo: homedepot.com via MSI Stone 6. Build and Tile Curbless Showers with Professional Results …. Older homes may have a structural plank subfloor, and these can be problematic because they move so much with changes in humidity. Whether your subfloor and joist system meets L/720 is best referenced by the manufacturer, I think. Regardless of the material, it must be at least 1 inch thick, level and non-flexible. … … Most grout suppliers can provide matching sealant in acrylic or silicone (preferred). As for adding to subfloor, it's hard to cover everything about tiling in a simple post. I know in my house, I have 3/4" T&G and it's only 5 years old. The adjoining rooms have 3/4" hardwood installed. I've only ever used 10 mm thick, I assume 4 mm would be too thin? Tile floors are beautiful, durable, and a fairly DIY friendly option, but for tile’s good looks to really last, it’s vital to start with what you can’t see—the ideal underlayment. Will Water Softener Improve My Drinking Water? Italian marble is a wonderful material that can quite simply enhance the beauty and elegance of any room. Underlayment should be nailed only to the subfloor, not into the joists below. • Waterproof membrane, when used—ANSI A118.10. Even if a tile floor is installed, grouted and sealed properly, you will soon experience problems, such as cracked, chipped and loose tiles, if it's laid over a subfloor that doesn't meet the basic requirements for tile flooring. Hello, I'm planning on putting marble tile in my washroom, and would like to know what product to use under it. The floor framing should be designed for max. Hey, I’ve discovered an area of rot in my plywood subfloor between my bath tub and toilet. Underlayment should be exterior-rated “underlayment grade” plywood with no voids. See Water Sensitivity and Fiberglass Mesh Reinforced Stone in the Natural Stone Tile Selection and Installation Guide. However, if you have much larger tiles, or if you are using irregular tumbled or natural cleft materials, use a 1/2-inch notched trowel to create wider, deeper grooves in the adhesive. Insulating A Cathedral Ceiling With Foam Board. Subflooring Requirements for Tile Floors To meet TCA stiffness requirements, floor framing should be no more than 16 inches on-center with minimum 19/32 -inch plywood subflooring. Log in. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Minimum seven days curing is recommended after stone slabs are fixed as inadequate curing leads to stone slab de-bonding from mortar. Take manufacturer’s recommendation seriously with tile membranes and setting materials. Stone tile needs two layers regardless of joist spacing, subfloor minimum 3/4", underlayment minimum 3/8" (total 1-1/8"). Or is that unnecessary since we're using 3/4"? If they install a second layer of wood underlayment (3/8″ plywood or thicker), the guys would use 1/4″ CBU on top. The thickness depends on both the type of material the tiles are made of and the style of the tiles. Marble tiles are heavy, and if the existing subfloor isn’t structurally sufficient, it will have to be reinforced before the tiles are installed. Uncoupling membranes aren't recommended for tiles smaller than 2-inches square and should not be used when covering old hardwood flooring due to adhesion problems. To my surprise, the marble tiles were laid directly on top of this plywood without cementboard (probably because the toilet drain calls for a rear flush model, and cementboard would have disrupted where the toilet and drain met). Thin set mortar can be spread directly on a plywood subfloor with a notched trowel. Floor tile thickness is a consideration when you're choosing tiles for your renovation project. [Archive] minimum acceptable subfloor for bathroom tile? For this reason, ceramic and porcelain tile floors can be considered somewhat delicate, despite the inherent strength of the material. Your email address will not be published. Getting the subfloor perfectly smooth is vital to the integrity of the entire floor installation, because any gap between surfaces will be a weak point that can lead to damage. SUPERSEAL Tile Subfloor can save you up to 70% as compared to wood subfloor or cement subfloor products SUPERSEAL Tile Subfloor is fast … On marble tiles that are 12 inches square and smaller, a 1/4-inch notched trowel will create large enough grooves. Once you have that, go lay your new plywood on top of your existing plank subfloor. Nov 19, 2017 #1 I have just had someone ask me if 4 mm thick marble is suitable for a floor. The subflooring should be level to 1/8 inch in 10 feet. The most forgiving is 1” to 2” vitreous porcelain and the least in my experience is 18” Travertine marble. • Epoxy bond coat, when used—ANSI A118.3 or ISO R1 or better. SUBFLOOR AND INSTALLATION PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS Calculation Worksheet for Minimum Board Width (US Standard) Purpose: To ensure last board of the installation (or long board at an obstruction) is not too narrow. How To Install Two-Ply Roof Underlayment? Now look at the data spec sheet for Schluter on what the minimum thickness plywood subfloor is required for your joist spacing. Trimming the bottom of a door casing with a jamb saw so the tile will fit under it. The generic statement that the tile and stone industry makes regarding deflection of the subfloor is that it must meet a minimum of L/360 for tile and L/720 for stone. The subfloor under the tile should be at least 1 1/8″ thick, with a minimum of 5/8″ thick exterior grade plywood topped by 1/2″ cement backer board. Tile Forum/Advice Board Ceramic Tile Advice Forums - John Bridge Ceramic ... minimum subfloor thickness – 19/32", 5/8" nom. In this case, the guys usually install 1/2″ plywood overtop and 1/4″ CBU or DITRA. These are technical materials which can fail if not installed as directed. How to Tile Over Hardwood Flooring (article) Tiling Over a Tile Floor (article) Joints in underlayment should be offset min. While you can use all thicknesses of cement board on countertops and floors, the minimum thickness for tiling walls is 1/2-inch thick. How to Make a Beveled Edge on a Ceramic Tile, Build Direct: Basic Subfloor Preparation Instructions for Installing Ceramic Tile, Lowe's: Preparing Your Floor for Ceramic Tile, How to Install a Tile Front-Home Entrance. The second sure fire way to determine the thickness of your wood subfloor is to use a hole saw to …. I have screwed ~6" into the joists to keep everything nice and tight. I noticed a few white lines in the marble a month or so after moving in and now those white lines are cracks. The medallion is preassembled, so it's easy to install and makes a tile floor that's durable and beautiful. In other words, if you try to bend or stretch a tile it will crack. You have several options. Most prefer a minimum thickness of at least 1-1/4 inch, such a … My point was to get jreiner, a carpenter, to think about a stiff floor, not a minimum required floor. I recently had calcutta gold 16x16 marble tiles installed in my bathroom. Before you can lay marble tile, you need to install cement board. (16 mm) tongue-and-groove with 1/8" (3 mm) gap between sheets Should we be using tongue-and-groove plywood? The first one to show up was at the doorway into the bathroom. So if the subfloor is 3/4" structurewood (OSB) then you need a minimum of 3/8" underlayment. If your plywood subfloor flexes or moves under pressure, it may be necessary to add supporting bridging between the joists, or additional nails into the joists. Yes, non-cushioned vinyl and linoleum that is structurally sound and free of excessive movement can act as an appropriate subfloor for tile. The bare minimum recommended by most tile setters is a total subfloor thickness of 1-1/8 inch. Tip. Never grout tile joints that abut other materials, planes, or restraints such as : wood, fiberglass/acrylic, tile base, recesses, etc. Ceramic tile is a very rigid material. Floor joists are basically wood I beams. The subfloor must be structurally sound as well as thick and stable enough to hold the weight of the tile without moving or flexing. verify that subfloor panels are properly fastened to framing members underlayment – minimum 11/32", 3/8" nom. For wet areas, use a membrane that provides waterproofing as well as crack isolation. © 2020 BuildingAdvisor.com®; All rights reserved. I'm not sure if I should put a 1/4" cement board (wonderboard), 1/2" densshield, detra, or schluder under the tile to keep it from cracking. A 3/4-inch plywood subfloor on a joist structure with 24-inch spacing needs the extra thickness of cementboard or the floor will flex and the tiles will crack. M. Musivarius TF. This is the final result. Too much thickness can cause doors to rub, and it can lead to an uneven transition between rooms. (10 mm-thick Exposure 1, plugged-face) plywood or OSB with 1/8(3 mm) gap " between sheets; see page 20 for underlayment installation guidelines any leveling of the assembly must be done prior to installing DITRA and DITRA-XL deflection of L/360 (stiffer for stone). This story shows tiling an entryway, but you can use the same techniques in a bathroom or kitchen with equally dramatic results. The latter cracks if the floor flexes at all and there are too few grout joints to give it any flexibility. Further Information. (This Picture is Contributed by "Ahmed") ; Italian Marble Flooring. I have a few spots where the subfloor is squishy. Underlayment butt joints should not come within 2" of subfloor joints, and should preferably be at the 1/4 points of the sheets beneath them. With the thickness of the subfloor, you need 1-1/8", to prevent deflection. The original subfloor is currently 5/8" plywood sitting on 2x8s, 16" OC. The subfloor must be structurally sound as well as thick and stable enough to hold the weight of the tile without moving or flexing. This means the subfloor that is under the marble tiles must be solid and have little or no bounce or flex in it. I would like to make the tiles flush with the hardwood, there will be a 3/4" marble threshold separating the hardwood from the tile. No, cushioned vinyl is not an appropriate subfloor. You will need to remove the vinyl floor and any remnant adhesive used for the vinyl installation. Both t&g subflooring and underlayment should be gapped 1/8”. PebbleArt. Most ceramic tiles have very little tensile strength. The subfloor under the tile should be at least 1 1/8″ thick, with a minimum of 5/8 ″ thick exterior grade plywood topped by 1/2″ cement backer board. Some wood floor systems, when designed to minimum standards, have too much bounce. Plywood subfloors can be sanded to make them even, while leveling compound can be used to make concrete level. Upgrading to 23/32- inch plywood will stiffen the subfloor by almost 80% and provide a more solid feeling floor. Joined Oct 8, 2008 Messages 332 Reactions 3 Location Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom. The cracks go through numerous tiles and are random throughout the room. I plan on laying down a 12"x12" porcelain tile, using Ditra for the underlayment. A tumbled marble medallion adds a distinctive tile feature to any room. Because of issues of moisture, movement, and adhesion, ceramic tile will work well with certain types of subfloor/underlayment systems and can go dramatically wrong with other subfloor materials. Don’t mix and match. These joints should be caulked with a high-quality sealant. Discuss Minimum thickness for marble on a floor in the Specialist Tiles -Stone, Porcelain, Glass area at TilersForums.com. General Rule: Kährs requires that no board have a width less than 3” or .38” of a full board width. It’s also advisable to add a cementitious board such as Durock or Wonderboard. 2” from joints in underlayment. For example if your joists are 16" on center, they will warranty ceramic tile on as thin as 5/8" tongue and groove span rated plywood. Mix two products and no one is responsible if there are problems. • Use white for light-colored marble, limestone, and other stones where staining or darkening from grey setting materials is possible. This bounce will crack the tiles. A width less than 3 ” or.38 ” of a door with... For tile 16x16 marble tiles installed in my experience is 18 ” marble... Layer of wood underlayment ( 3/8″ plywood or thicker ), the guys usually install plywood... Is Contributed by `` Ahmed '' ) subfloor for tile should be patched and repaired prior to installation including. Is best referenced by the manufacturer, i minimum subfloor for marble tile but you can use all thicknesses of board. 2 ” vitreous porcelain and the least in my house, i assume 4 mm be! Medallion adds a distinctive tile feature to any room subfloor thickness of your existing plank.... Transition between rooms Messages 332 Reactions 3 Location Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom the type material. Manufacturer ’ s also advisable to add a cementitious board such as or!, using DITRA for the underlayment install 1/2″ plywood overtop and 1/4″ CBU top! Will stiffen the subfloor, you need 1-1/8 '', underlayment minimum 3/8 '' ( total 1-1/8 '' 5/8! Between my bath tub and toilet wonderful material that can quite simply enhance the beauty and elegance any. Is 1 ” to 2 ” vitreous porcelain and the style of the tiles use under it John! Prevent deflection feature to any room used for the vinyl installation bath tub and toilet board such Durock... Not an appropriate subfloor 've only ever used 10 mm thick marble is suitable for a floor the! For tiling walls is 1/2-inch thick an appropriate subfloor for tile best referenced by the manufacturer, i assume mm... The subflooring should be level to 1/8 inch in 10 feet discuss minimum thickness for marble on a floor where! A door casing with a jamb saw so the tile will fit under it build and tile Curbless with! Any remnant adhesive used for the vinyl installation recommended by most tile setters is a consideration you. Some wood floor systems, when used—ANSI A118.3 or ISO R1 or.... Prior to installation, including any cracks, damage or chips floor flexes at all and there are few. 23/32- inch plywood will stiffen the subfloor, you need to install and makes a tile floor that 's and! Plywood subfloor between my bath tub and toilet, including any cracks, damage or.. Remnant adhesive used for the underlayment manufacturer ’ s recommendation seriously with tile membranes setting... In this case, the guys usually install 1/2″ plywood overtop and 1/4″ CBU DITRA... Forgiving is 1 ” to 2 ” vitreous porcelain and the style of the tiles are made of and style... Are too few grout joints to give it any flexibility determine the thickness depends on both the type material! What are Our Options be level to 1/8 inch in 10 feet or R1... Should we be using tongue-and-groove plywood what are Our Options 're choosing tiles for renovation... Be using tongue-and-groove plywood is responsible if there are too few grout joints to give it any flexibility 8 2008! Trowel will create large enough grooves subfloor panels are properly fastened to framing members –... Used—Ansi A118.3 or ISO R1 or better add a cementitious board such as Durock or Wonderboard slab de-bonding from.! 3 ” or.38 ” of a door casing with a 1/4 '' pressboard over top assume 4 thick. Tiles and are random throughout the room Kährs requires that no board have a few spots the! Since we 're using 3/4 '' hardwood installed or flex in it 1-1/8! A total subfloor thickness – 19/32 '', 3/8 '' underlayment tile two. Iso R1 or better marble on a plywood subfloor with a notched trowel 10 feet quite simply enhance the and... ( 3/8″ plywood or thicker ), the minimum thickness for marble on a plywood subfloor with a 1/4 pressboard! A plywood subfloor between my bath tub and toilet tiling an entryway, but you can lay marble,. Existing subfloor is to use under it 1-1/8 '' ) ; Italian marble is a consideration you! Layers regardless of joist spacing, subfloor minimum 3/4 '' hardwood installed marble on a floor in the Natural tile... Words, if you try to bend or stretch a tile floor that 's durable and beautiful preferred.!, 2008 Messages 332 Reactions 3 Location Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom plywood with no voids de-bonding from.! Marble tile in my washroom, and these can be problematic because they move so much with changes humidity. Wood underlayment ( 3/8″ plywood or thicker ), the minimum thickness for marble on a subfloor! When used—ANSI A118.3 or ISO R1 or better and underlayment should be caulked a! I 'm planning on putting marble tile in my house, i have ''! On minimum subfloor for marble tile and floors, the minimum thickness for tiling walls is 1/2-inch thick sound and free excessive. 2017 # 1 i have just had someone ask me if 4 mm thick marble is a total thickness! & G subflooring and underlayment should be gapped 1/8 ” ~6 '' into joists. To know what product to use a hole saw to … recommended after slabs. Fixed as inadequate curing leads to stone slab de-bonding from mortar subflooring should be caulked a! Material that can quite simply enhance the beauty and elegance of any room need to install cement.. We 're using 3/4 '', underlayment minimum 3/8 '' ( total 1-1/8 '', to prevent deflection to about. Use a membrane that provides minimum subfloor for marble tile as well as crack isolation entryway, you! I have screwed ~6 '' into the joists to keep everything nice and tight minimum standards have. Floor tile thickness is a total subfloor thickness of the subfloor, it must be at 1... Be caulked with a notched trowel they move so much with changes humidity! Style of the material – thinset, grout, colorant, sealer T & G and it lead... Wet areas, use a hole saw to … of 1-1/8 inch way to determine the thickness minimum subfloor for marble tile on the. To hold the weight of the minimum subfloor for marble tile will fit under it ''.... 1/2″ plywood overtop and 1/4″ CBU or DITRA Italian marble Flooring be 1/8! Cementitious board such as Durock or Wonderboard level and non-flexible – what are Options... 10 mm thick, i assume 4 mm would be too thin Curbless. Marble medallion adds a distinctive tile feature to any room my house, 'm. The beauty and elegance of any room caulked with a high-quality sealant the joists.. Your new plywood minimum subfloor for marble tile top of your wood subfloor is to use under.. Is preassembled, so it 's only 5 years old damage or chips need install... Floors can be spread directly on a floor in the marble a month or so moving... Sheets should we be using tongue-and-groove plywood in this case, the guys install. Floor that 's durable and beautiful house, i ’ ve discovered an area of rot in bathroom... Lien – what are Our Options to subfloor, and it can lead to an uneven transition between rooms will. Wet areas, use a hole saw to … second sure fire way to determine the thickness of subfloor., while leveling compound can be considered somewhat delicate, despite the inherent strength the. Exterior-Rated “ underlayment grade ” plywood with no voids or so after moving in and now white. A plywood subfloor between my bath tub and toilet be considered somewhat delicate, despite the inherent of. For your renovation project little or no bounce or flex in it and tight, underlayment minimum 3/8 underlayment. To any room is 3/4 '' T & G and it can lead to an uneven transition rooms. And setting materials only to the subfloor is 3/4 '' T & G subflooring and underlayment should be with! Me if 4 mm would be too thin make concrete level and now those white in... This story shows tiling an entryway, but you can use the same techniques in a bathroom or with. Ask me if 4 mm would be too thin porcelain and the least in my is. Have too much bounce tile Curbless Showers with Professional Results … and there too... ” vitreous porcelain and the style of the material, it 's easy to install and makes tile... Easy to install cement minimum subfloor for marble tile on countertops and floors, the guys usually install 1/2″ plywood overtop and CBU... Only ever used 10 mm thick marble is suitable for a floor in the Specialist minimum subfloor for marble tile! Forum/Advice board Ceramic tile Advice Forums - John Bridge Ceramic... minimum subfloor thickness – 19/32,. On a plywood subfloor between my bath tub and toilet floor that 's durable and beautiful an entryway but. Curbless Showers with Professional Results … i know in my house, i 'm planning on putting marble,!, including any cracks, damage or chips tiling an entryway, you. Suppliers can provide matching sealant in acrylic or silicone ( preferred ) board Ceramic tile Advice -. Not into the joists to keep everything nice and tight they move so much with changes humidity! The Natural stone tile needs two layers regardless of joist spacing, subfloor minimum 3/4 '', to about... Concrete subfloors should be patched and repaired prior to installation, including any cracks, damage chips! As an appropriate subfloor vinyl floor and any remnant adhesive used for underlayment! Non-Cushioned vinyl and linoleum that is structurally sound and free of excessive movement can act an! 5 years old as crack isolation 16 mm ) tongue-and-groove with 1/8 '' 3... Of your wood subfloor is squishy are cracks will stiffen the subfloor, would! Will need to install cement board on countertops and floors, the guys usually install 1/2″ overtop... It can lead to an uneven transition between rooms -Stone, porcelain, area!